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YOUR RESEARCHSuspension refresh -- Genuine Porsche versus OEM
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Use by porsche
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Remember OEM normally means that the company makes parts used by Porsche, but not necessarily the exact part.
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Suggestion
But the more important question to this expert audience; Will there be a noticeable difference, replacing original struts at 80k miles with OEM replacements?
Leading evidence: 'Use by porsche' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Replace original struts at 80k miles' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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I have seen OE and OEM used differently by vendors, but you can find the exact part labeled Porsche sold under the manufacturer�s brand also.
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The OEM parts I used fit perfectly with no issue and looked exactly the same to the naked eye.
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Suggestion
But the more important question to this expert audience; Will there be a noticeable difference, replacing original struts at 80k miles with OEM replacements?
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Replace original struts at 80k miles
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Suggestion
But the more important question to this expert audience; Will there be a noticeable difference, replacing original struts at 80k miles with OEM replacements?
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Suggestion · Original poster
I did some googling and the only thing I come up with is engine rebuild comments that say to definitely use genuine Porsche because they go through more rigorous testing.
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I'm getting ready to replace the rubber bits in my 100K mile suspension. I had my finger poised over some of the kits offered by various online entities such as ECS etc. Then, yesterday, I visited a local P-car indy with 30+ years' experience. He strongly recommended going with genuine Porsche parts versus aftermarket stuff. "Even OEM"? I asked. He said yes. According to him the Porsche branded stuff just seems to last longer, period.
I want to make clear that I'm not trying to compare, say, Elephant Racing to genuine Porsche. I'm trying to compare, for example, OEM lower links to genuine Porsche lower links.
I replaced a bunch of stuff in my BMW Z4MC a couple of years ago and went with OEM parts. For example I bought a Luk flywheel; the part I took off the car had 'Luk' stamped on it, and I assume I got the exact same part I would have if I had paid the "genuine BMW" price. Was I wrong? Or is there something truly different about Porsche and what they let OEM manufacturers offer versus what they sell via Porsche dealers? I did some googling and the only thing I come up with is engine rebuild comments that say to definitely use genuine Porsche because they go through more rigorous testing. Does that also translate to suspension parts? I'm interested in hearing comments from the experienced folk on here.
I understand what the Indy is saying.
Porsche is better than some "OEM" parts.
It depends upon the actual manufacture whether it's as good.
Porsche should always be good quality, for OEM I'd want to know the manufacture.
If your Indy is supplying the parts and doing the work, you'll probably need to go with what he recommends.
Control arms are a fairly simple DIY job, but you'll have to take it somewhere to be aligned afterwards.
Lots of people here have had good luck with Meyle.
There have been mixed results for
�ro.
I do my own work, so I've stuck with �ro lower control arms and Mevotech upper control arms for now.
(I have a set of GT3 adjustable control arms and Elephant racing rear upper control arm with monoballs I'll be installing on my 996 one of these days)
But since I can redo mine easily, it doesn't cost me much to re-do.
ECS, Pelican Parts, FCP Euro are good sources for quality parts, but there are cheaper places sometime.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...trol+arm,10401
I would stay far away from the $40 Ultra-Power lower control arms!
Remember OEM normally means that the company makes parts used by Porsche, but not necessarily the exact part. If you research you can find the manufacturer, sometimes manufacturers, that makes the exact part. That should then give you the same quality as genuine Porsche. I recently refreshed mine, TRW and Lemforder make most of the suspension parts for Porsche, which is what I used. I picked up a few parts at my local dealership that I found I needed in middle of the repair. They know how easy it is to get parts online and were very competitive compared to their advertised price.
Thanks for this question as I’m in a similar dilemma right now. I have a 996 with 80K miles and was considering a suspension refresh consisting of replacing all the Struts with OEM B4’s. My indy quoted north of $5k, out the door (in Southern California). I had budgeted around $3k, like my Boxster. Has inflation hit the labor market now too? But the more important question to this expert audience; Will there be a noticeable difference, replacing original struts at 80k miles with OEM replacements? Just trying to reconcile the investment. Thank you.
Yes it will make a difference, but don't forget control arms and control arm links.
Also drop links and swaybar bushings.
If you do all of that, you'll be amazed at how much better it feels.
I did mine a few years ago with around 60K miles and was amazed at the difference.
Labor has to go up, because everyones cost has gone up.
Also pay has to go up since everyone is spending more for groceries, etc.
I was at 80K and struts were done, I could easily compress by hand, new ones took a lot of effort. I did not have even pieces of the bump stops, they were completely gone. All the rubber bushings were soft in comparison to new. The bearings fell apart when I took off. The strut mounts were the only rubber parts good enough to reinstall. You might want to look at pictures, my fender gap is much larger with the new shocks, which are B6�s. I wish I would have switched to lower springs.
Fcpeuro has a complete kit with oem parta at real resonable cost. As always u get their lifetime gurentee. Im running a bunch of trw parts at 135mph on the track with no issue, if i wear them out i get new for the price of shipping.
I have Feal coilovers and some other upgraded suspension components, but I refreshed the rest of my whole suspension with TRW and Meyle parts from FCP Euro. Feels great. I highly recommend it. Not sure if it lasts as long as OE or not, but it feels very good right now. Personally, I think that the stories of the OE lasting longer than OEM is purely speculation. It�s not the metal that goes bad, it�s the rubber, so what you�d have to believe is that they use a superior rubber compound on the Porsche branded parts. I find that hard to believe. The OEM parts I used fit perfectly with no issue and looked exactly the same to the naked eye.
Please someone who know more correct me if I'm wrong but I was always of the understanding that your could by parts as Porsche, OE, and OEM. My understanding of OE was that designated that the part was from the original manufacturer of that particular part supplied to Porsche but not the having to pay the "Porsche tax"?
Sorry, I should have been more specific. I was referring to the control arms and such. Those parts that you linked to were ones that I already purchased. It seems that all of the major suspension links are either Porsche or Meyle (made in Asia).
OE is Original Equipment, as in what would have been installed by Porsche at the factory and are official Porsche parts. OEM is Original Equipment Manufacturer, meaning they are replacement parts made by the same companies that manufactured the OE parts, but they not branded as Porsche parts and may or may not be the exact same quality. Likely, they are the same, but it's difficult to prove 100%.
OP - Crap-ton of threads here with plenty of info on who used what and why. If you have the wherewithal to do some �footwork� you�ll save plenty of scratch. If you just want to get it done less painstakingly and now, do what your indie suggests. I had fun researching and gathering all the parts for my suspension rebuild. As someone, not De Jeeper, (of course-he�s invisible) hints at; TRW makes all the OE control arms (including GT3). Meyle and Lemf�rder, as well as TRW, make nearly all of the rest. OE for top mounts, nuts and bolts. OE links are fine for non-adjustable sways. Pick your poison for the flavor of springs, dampers and sways,; and Bob�s your uncle, your done. Simple, right? FCP usually has a good mix for their kit, but the way parts supply is these days, they may not have the �best� option for a particular part available.
Bottom line: Get OE when it makes sense. Avoid needlessly paying the Porsche tax when feasible. Just a little shopping around will save you at least $500 for a full redo. A fresh suspension is transcendental for a 996.
Thanks to everyone so far, it's been very enlightening.
Thanks. No problem with doing the footwork, but this site is basically a series of huge silos; this is the 996 silo, and everything relating to that vintage is all piled together. Google does a half decent job even so. Now that I have some idea who the true OE manufacturers are, I can use those as breadcrumbs to dig for more.
I've also run into supply chain joy already, on my first order no less. I'm looking forward to that transcendental moment but it may be more of a wait than I had hoped.
TRW and Lemf�rder are both owned by ZF. The last set of GT3 LCA's I got were TRW castings in a Lemf�rder box marked made in Germany. Other Lemf�rder parts I have recently gotten have been marked made in France, Tunisia, Italy, and Turkey. The Meyle stuff can be a bit of a crap shoot, most is fine and some is trash. I have some Meyle front drop links that are marked made in Turkey, probably in the same factory as the Lemf�rder ones, which look fine but I can't use them with my adjustable front sway bar. The ones to avoid at all costs IMO are anything by Hamburg Technik which is all Chinese made.
I mostly went through FCP Euro, but they were out if stock on some items. Outside of Pelican, Germanautoparts.com and Autohausaz.com also carry parts in stock. I ordered most last October, I don�t remember what exactly came from where. Rockauto had the best pricing on struts.
Here's a great video from FCP on OE vs Genuine. Around 7:00, you'll notice them mentioning in some cases you'll buy an OE part and it actually has the BMW logo in this case, ground off of it. I have seen this.
You Tube
Just did this! Check out europaparts.com. They have Meyle Classic, a better version of the Meyle, including what FCP, offer, with urethane bushings. They also have the TRW arms. And reasonable prices.
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